Mary Magdalene. The one who was filled with demons and likely shunned from society, the one who was healed by Jesus firsthand, the one who followed and traveled with him throughout his ministry, the one who witnessed his torture and crucifixion up close–is one of the first ones whom Jesus appeared to in his resurrected body. While reading John 20, I was struck by his care and affection for her.

She walked to the tomb before the sun had warmed the morning chill and found an empty space. She ran to tell Peter and John to say that someone had stolen their Lord’s body and after their footrace back to the tomb, Mary turned around and was greeted by a man. Distraught and disappointed in this turn of events, she didn’t realize who he was. Likely with great calm, Jesus asked her a question and she frantically replied, almost accusatory, begging for her Lord’s body to be returned. Then in verse 16, Jesus says her name… “Mary.” I imagine it was said tenderly, affectionately, and with incredible warmth. Hearing Jesus speak her name seemed to be exactly what she needed to snap out of her trance. She then “turns around” and calls him “Rabboni” (Teacher). She likely sees him fully here- in all his glory, back from the gruesome murder (that she witnessed), standing in front of her saying her name. He removed the demons from her years before and now he removed the scales of grief from her eyes.

As I kept reading, I was struck with the thought that her once downtrodden demeanor morphed into ecstatic enthusiasm. She told everyone what she had seen and who she had seen. I pray that I can remember that the Lord once met me with the same downtrodden disposition and through his love and call, I could finally see. I gained a vision so clear that I struggle to remember how I walked around so blind. I could finally see what I had been missing- him.